Sanitary apparatus with valved air gap



Jam 23, 1940 w. c. GRoENlGl-:R

SANITARY APPARATUS WITH VALVED AIR GAP Filed March 17, 1939 l `1NVENTOB Wllllom C. Groemger y@ H15 R Patented Jan. 423., 1940 UNITED STATES SANITARY APPARA'I) WITH VALVED AIR William C. Groeniger, Columbus, h'io, assigner to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 17, 1939, Serial No. 262,451 v claims. (o1. 4-70) tary apparatus, of the specified type, wherein there is provided an air vent for relieving any tendency toward the formation of a vacuum ink the system of water supply piping, the air vent being so disposed above the overflow spill level of the bowl as to leave a substantial air gap therebetween. It is closely related to the invention disclosed and claimed in my copending application for patent Serial No. 255,401, filed February 9, 1939, and entitled Sanitary apparatus with air gap.

A piping system supplying Water to several outlet devices for a variety of uses is many times called upon to deliver more water than is possible considering the flow capacity of the system. Under such or analogous conditions there arises in the system Aa tendency toward the creation of a vacuum, which, if not relieved, is likely to establish what is known in the sanitary art as a crossconnection, and to syphon polluted water, standing dormant in receptacles of certain types of the outlet devices, back into the supply piping. This intermingling of polluted water with potable water being supplied, is likely to endanger the health of those using the system.

Variously arranged airrvents and diaphragm air' valves have heretofore been associated with theA outlet devices of such a system for breaking the syphon and safeguarding health.

In my copending application Serial No. 163,383,

led September 11, 1937, and entitled Defecator with combined flushing jet and air break there is disclosed an air vent disposed Well above the` overow spill-level of a sanitary bowl or receptacle so as to leave a substantial air gap, the air vent communicating with the water supply inlet,

and being arranged in such-manner as to pass a minor ow of the ushing water therethrough and into the receptacle flushing-jet.

In my aforementioned copending application Serial No. 255,401, there is disclosed a valve eiement in association with the water supply inlet. In its open position, normally maintained by the force of gravity, the valve element advantageously deflects a minor portion of the inflowing water through the air vent. Any tendency for a vacuum to form in the water supply vpiping produces a suction effective to lift the valve element against, and thus to close, the water supply inlet.

The present invention provides a downflow in theform of an additional passage leading directly into the receptacle and opening, at its top, adjacent the water supply inlet. The passage communicates with an -air vent located well above the overflow spill level of the receptacle, and has, about its top opening, a valve seat formed to receive the valve element when in normal open position. Thus, when the valve element opens the water supply inlet, it closes the downow passage and vice versa.

An object of the invention is to provide, in sanitary apparatus, for the substantially direct downllow, through a passage communicating with an air vent or gap, of a'minor portion of the entering ushing water across surfaces of the receptacle otherwise unserved by flushing jets, and in addition, to provide for substantially closing they flushing Water inlet against the force of suction exerted when there is a tendency toward the creation of a vacuum within the water supply piping, and coincidentally, for opening communication between the air vent and the chamber which distributes the inowing water to the various flushing jets.

An obj ect is to allow minor flow of ushing liquid through the downflow passage into the receptacle while maintaining the downow passage substantially closed against the inflowof flushing liquid to the distributing chamber.

In the drawing: v Fig. 1 represents a vertical section taken cen trally through a preferred type of sanitary apparatus embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the upper right hand portion of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 Fig. 2.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawing represents merely an example of types of sanitary apparatus incorporatingvfeatures of this invention. It discloses defecator construction which is somewhat similar to that set forth in my pre- An evacuator con-` As illustrated, the bowlv circle the bowl, but merges into the rear portion of the defecator at the lateral sides thereof, thus leaving a rear portion of the inner surfaces of the bowl Il, see Illb, unserved by rim jets I3.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a downlow passage formation, which opens at its top substantially opposite the inlet -for the supply of flushing water, for directing a minor flow ofthe flushing water 'across inner surfaces of the receptacle, and which cQmmunicates with an air vent for preventing crossconnection between the water supply piping and contents of the receptacle when there is a tend-- ency toward the formation of a Vacuum in the water supply piping.

In the illustrated construction, the inlet for the supply of flushing liquid is disposed in the top of a distributing chamber I4, formed at the rear of the receptacle, i. e., bowl I0, by enclosing front and rear walls, l5 and I6, respectively, by lateral walls i7, Il, and by top wall I8 into which the front, rear, and lateral walls merge.

Front wall I5 is of irregular configuration, comprising a lower portion |5a, and, disposed forwardly thereof, an upper portion |5b. The lower and upper portions are connected by a substantially horizontal portion |50 through which is formed an open passage I9. Those edges of wall portion |50, which define the opening of passage I9, are upturned and preferably ground hat to form a valve seat 2D. Passage I9 is so disposed in wall portion |50 `as to lie substantially opposite the inlet for the supply of ilushing liquid.

Lateral walls Il, I'I, extend forwardly beyond upper portion |51) of front wall I5, see I'Ia, Ila; and top wall I8 likewise extends forwardly and has a downwardly turned lip |8a at its extreme forward edge. A wall section 2| extends between the lower portions of the forward edges of lateral walls VI, il', and rises upwardly to a location well above the top level of the rim Illa of the bowl. The downwardly turned lip IBG. of front wall I8 and the -upper part of wall section 2| define, therebetween, an air vent 22 which leads inwardly to communication with the downi'low passage l0, and which denes an air gap 22-l above the overflow spill level, indicated A, andthe lowest level of the air vent 22. The overflow spill level is the highest level to which the flushing water can rise under ordinary conditions, the level A indicating the top surface of the overflow at the rim of the bowl I0..

By the expression well above the overflow spill leve is meant such a distance above the overflow spill level of the bowl as will preclude all possibility of liquid flow cross-connection between the contents of the bowl-no matter at what leveland the air vent, across the air gap 22|. In most cases two inches above is a safe minimum, but the minimum distance, in any given instance, is determined bythe diameter of the water supply piping.

The bowl l@ may be provided with any preferred type of main flushing jet or jets. As illustrated, the main jet channels I-I, IIJ-l extend downwardly from communication with distributing chamber I4 at opposite sides of the bowl, and merge at the main jet opening Ill- 2.

'Ihe inlet for the supply of flushing water to the distributing chamber i4 is provided by supply piping 23, connected by means of a suitable type of spud, into an aperture formed in the top wall of the chamber.

Valve means are provided between the valve seat 29, of downflow passage I9, and the supply piping 23.

In the present instance, the spud connection serves to secure the valve means in operative placement with respect to the downflow passage I9 and the piping 23, and provides an upper valve Seat in opposition to lower valvel seat 2|.

'I'he spud connection may comprise a coupling pipe 2'4 having an upper externally threaded portion 24a, and a downwardly flared lower portion 24h, the latter fitting within the aperture formed in tcp wall I8 'and being held in place in a watertight manner by means of the flexible gasket 29 of rubber or other suitable material. A ring nut and washer., indicated generally at 29, secures the coul pling 24 in place, and a cap nut 21, threaded onto the upper portion 24a of the coupling 24., secures the piping 23 in place. The coupling 24 has an internally extending circumferential bead 24e intermediate its upper threaded portion 24a and its lowerared portion 2417.

The valve means comprises a circular spider 28 having a centrally apertured diametrical crossbar V28a preferably .integral with a circumferential ring 28h. The circumferential ring 2819 rests upon the internally extending bead 24h vof coupling 24, and is held in place by the abutting piping 23. l

Through the aperture of central portionA 28a extends a headed rod 29, the greatest part of whose shank is substantially smooth forming a slideway, and whose lower end is threaded to receive a nut 3D. Slid'ably disposed on the slid'eway portion of 'therod 29, between the headed upper end of the rod and the lower nut 30, is a disk valve element 3|, perforated, as at 32, for providing restricted passage therethrough.

As is illustrated, the disk valve element 3|, in`

its lowermost position, seats upon valve seat 20, and, in its uppermost position, is adapted to seat against the lower circumferential edge of flanged lower portion 24aof coupling v26|.

Passage I9 extends downwardly from its open-v ing in the horizontally disposed section |50 of front wall I5, and extends along 'the 4rearward inner wall surface IDb, thus communicating with air vent 22, and merging into the opening of bowl I0.

In operation, assuming the flushing cycle is initiatedby a suitablefflushometer valve or other device (not illustrated), flushing water descends through water supply piping 23 dire'ctly'against the upper surfaceof disk valve 3|. Disk valve 3| is normally seated on the valve seat 2| by the force of gravity, and, during the inflow of flushing water through supply piping 23, is pressed into tight engagement'with the valve seat. 'A' minorv portion of the inflowing water passes 'through 'perforations 32, and flows downwardly, through downfiow passage I9, to flush inner surface Illb. Thefmajor portion'of the inflowing water, however, is deflected into the distributing chamber I4 for passage into-main flushing jet vchannels I 'Il-I, Ill-I, and into rim channels I2, and for discharge into the bowl |0 through the main jet opening Ill-2 and the rim jets I3, respectively.

When there is a tendency for a rvacuum to form within thev supply piping Y23, the valve element 3| is elevated, by the force` of suction, into seating relationship with the circumferential bottom edge of the outwardly flared lower portion 24a of coupling 24. Such seating of valve element 3| absorbs the shock of the suction and opens communication between distributing chamber I4 and air vent' 22 by way of downow passage? 19. .-f-By"reasonofrthe re' stricted passage provided by -perforations -32 .in disk valve element 3|, air passes upwardlyinto supply piping' 23 for dissipating'vacuum conditions, even though suchpiping is substantially closed against backilow'.

Upon return of normalzconditions vin the water supply piping-23, 4disk valve element 31 drops back to normal seatingf'p'osition on the valve seat 2|.

Whereas this invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that various changes may be made without departing from the generic scope of the invention as defined herein and in the claims that follow. i

I claim:

1. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary receptacle adapted to be flushed; a hollow upstanding portion extending well above the overflow spill level of the receptacle and forming a chamber for the distribution of flushing liquid to the receptacle; inow means for iiushing water communicating with said chamber; a passage opening into said chamber at a location substantially opposite the location of the said inflow means, and extending downwardly into communication with the opening of said receptacle; an air gap communicating with said passage at a location well above the overflow spill level of said receptacle; and valve means disposed between said inow means and said opening of the passage, said valve means being arranged to normally seat over said opening of the passage, but being adapted to seat over said inflow means by the force of suction exerted within said inflow means.

2. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary receptacle adapted to be flushed; a hollow upstanding portion extending well above the overow spill level of the receptacle and forming a chamber for the distribution of flushing liquid to the receptacle; inow means for flushing water communicating with said chamber; a passage opening into said chamber at a location substantially opposite the location of the said iniiow means, and extending downwardly into communication with the opening of said receptacle; an air gap communicating with said passage at a location well above the overflow spill level of said receptacle; a perforated valve element mounted for movement between said inow means and said opening of the passage, said valve element being adapted to normally seat over the said opening of the passage, and being adapted to seat over said inow means by the force of suction within said iniiow means.

3. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary receptacle adapted to be flushed; a hollow upstanding portion extending well above the overow spill level of the receptacle and forming a chamber for the distribution of ushing liquid to the receptacle; inow means for ushing Water communicating with said chamber at the top of said hollow upstanding portion and forming a valve seat thereat; a passage opening into said chamber at a location substantially opposite the location of said inow means; an air gap communicating with said passage at a location well above the overflow spill level of said receptacle; valve means between said iniiow means and said opening of the passage, said valve means being arranged to normally seat over said opening of the passage by the force of gravity, but being adapted to seatover. saidinow'means vby the force of suction exerted within said inow means. 4. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary Vreceptaclev adapted -to be flushed; 'a hollow upstanding portion extending well above the overflow spill level of the receptacle and forming a chamber-for the distribution of iiushing liquid to. the receptacle; inflow means for flushing water communicating with said chamber through the top wall of said hollow upstanding portion and forming a valve seat thereat; a passage opening into said chamber at a location substantially opposite the location of said inflow means; an air gap communicating with said passage at a location well rabove the overiiow spill level of said receptacle; a valve element slidably mounted for movement between said iniiow means and said opening of the passage, said valve element being perforated, being adapted to normally seat over the said opening of the passage, and being adapted to seat over said iniiow means by the force of suction within said inflow means.

5. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary receptacle adapted to be flushed; a hollow substantially closed upstanding portion extending above the overflow spill level of the receptacle and forming a substantially enclosed chamber for the distribution of flushing liquid to the receptacle; piping for the supply of flushing liquid, communicating with said chamber through the closed top thereof; a spud connection joining said piping with said closed top of the chamber and forming a valve seat thereat; a spider supported by said spud connection and extending across the opening thereof; a passage opening into the said chamber at a location substantially opposite the said valve seat; a

valve seat formed about said opening of the passage; a spider supported by said Spud connection and extending across the opening thereof a rod depending substantially centrally from said spider and extending through the plane of the valve seat of said opening of the passage; a

perforated disk valve element slidably disposed on said rod for normally seating by the force of gravity on the valve seat formed about said opening of the passage, and adapted for movement upwardly into engagement with the valve seat on said spud connection when there is suction in said piping; and an air gap communicatingy with said passage atv a location well above the overow spill level of the receptacle.

6. A defecator comprising a bowl; a closed chamber extending above the overiiow spill level of the bowl; flushing jet channels leading from said hollow chamber to said bowl; an aperture formed in the top wall of said chamber, said aperture being adapted for communication with piping for the inow of flushing water to the chamber; walls deiining passage leading downwardly from said chamber into the said bowl, the opening of said passage being disposed opposite said aperture, a valve seat formed about the opening of said downflow passage in said chamber; and an air gapl communicating with said downflow passage well above the overflow spill level of the bowl.

7. A defecator comprising a bowl; walls deiining a closed chamber at the rear of said bowl and extending above the overow spill level thereof, the front wall of said chamber having a substantially horizontal portion; an aperture formed in the top wall of said bowl above said lili- 4 annals:

horizontal portion of the front Wall; an opening formed in said horizontal `portion of the 4front wall in substantially vertical alignment; a passage formed through said lhorizontal portion of the front wall in substantially vertical alignment with said aperture, said passage leading downwardly into said bowl across rear inner surfaces thereof; forward extensions to said side walls and said top Wall of the chamber, the

lower *portions of :said `torward extensions of the side 'Walls :merging with 'the rim of said bowl, a wall section joining thevforward extensions of the iside walls at a location adjacent the rim of the bowl, said Wall section and said forward extension of the top wall forming an air gap therebetween; `and flushing jet channels leading from said ch'amber'into said bowl.

'WillLIAM C. GROENIGER. 

